Recent discussions about sustainable development have shifted their focus from solving environmental challenges in an economic way to more grassroots changes in social-political processes and relations. Against this backdrop, we consider transformative sustainable development (TSD) as a comprehensive approach to growth and progress beyond the traditional approaches. TSD aims to fundamentally alter societal systems, policies, and practices to achieve long-term sustainability. It goes beyond accumulative changes, aiming for deep, systemic shifts that address social, economic, and environmental challenges simultaneously, which aligns with the principles of Islam.

For this conference, we adopt the definition of TSD as a deep systematic change using innovative approaches which intend to address the root cause of global issues rather than just the symptoms of these issues. The key components we seek to promote are deep systematic change, holistic shift, long-term perspective, innovation-driven solutions, and equity.

Islam is a faith that openly embraces all forms of technological progress, recognizing the transformative potential of innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and other disruptive technologies. It encourages the pursuit of knowledge and scientific advancement as a means to benefit humanity and promote economic and societal well-being. However, within its framework, it emphasizes that technological development must be employed responsibly and ethically.

As AI technology rapidly advances, there is a vital need to ensure that its application aligns with ethics, equity, inclusiveness, fairness, transparency, and social responsibility. By emphasizing ethics and responsible use in AI development and utilization, this theme aims to facilitate innovative digital solutions that support economic growth, social prosperity, financial inclusion, and sustainable development in communities around the world. This conference emphasizes and examines the need for balancing technological progress with ethics to build a resilient and ethically responsible economic system.